Pneumatic arch and heel support.



B. STEWART.

PNEUMATIC ARCH AND HEEL SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-16.!918.

Patented A11 26,1919.

[270972 far BENJAMIN STEWATET, OF ERIE, EENNS'YLVAHIA.

' PNEUMATIC ARCH Am HEEL SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Faien'teil Aug. 26,

Application filed Getoher 16, 1918. SerialNo. 258,3$5.

To all whom it may concern,

Be it known that I, BnNJAMiN STEWART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the counltv of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have rented certain new and usefiil improvements in Pneumatic Arch and Heel Supports; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and. exact descidption oi the "ivcntion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap'periains to maize and use the same, reference being had in the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification,

My invention relates to neuniatic arch and heel supports, to be utilized in shoes, to support fallen arches, and the heels of the wearers by an elastic support that may be varied as the necessities of the wearer require.

The device. consists substantially of an inclosed'receptacle adapted to be inscrted in a shoe under the arch and heel ofthe wearer adapted to retain air therein so as to operate as an elastic cushion, and valve mechanism extending downward therefrom, whereby agreater or less amount of air may be pumped therein.

The features of my invention are hereinafter fully set forth and described, and illustratcd in the accompanying drawings in which: l 1

Figure 1, is a side view in elevation of: a ortion of a shoe havinp' parts thereof iiroken away, illustrating-one form of my invention,

Fig. 2, is a portionfjof a shoe having parts thereof broken away, illustrating a modification of the valve mechanism of my invention.

- In these drawings A is the body of a shoe, B the heel, and C the sole, all of the usual construction.

In the shoe and resting. upon the inside of mg from the back end of the heel portion A side view in elevation of a' of the shoe, to and some distance over the hall portion C of the sole C of the shoe, this receptacle being made oi such w dth and shape as to conform to the size and width of the inside of the sole of the shoe.

Secured in the lower wall'cl of this receptacle is a stem E, having a suitable check valve i. iherein. This check valve c, the stem l of which ends downwardly through a hole 0 in *Eue sole 7 of *he shoe adjacent to the from: end 7) or the heel secured in place by means of screw E, on the valve stem E, screwed up against valve mechanism of my device, in, which the stem E is provided with an extension E, which extendsbackward through a hole 7: in the heel B toj-th e rear thereof where it is provided with a rerndv'alole cap 0 to exclude dirt, as hereinheforcdescribed.

I have not shown an insole of leather or other suitable material, resting on the top of the receptacle D and extending forward to the toe of the shoe, as it is obvious that in y device can be utili Yl equally well either or without such insole, as suits ience of the wearer.

In operation the recs Iii cle D is filled with air at suitable pressure to expand the same so as to form a suitable cl stic. support for the fallen arch and heel of the wearer of the shoe; such pressure being aried accord ing to the amount of air pumped into the receptacle D;

Having described my invention so as to enable others to construct and utilize the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is -A pneumatic-arch and heel support, consistin substantially of an air-tigh aible chain on extending from the heel to the ball Q V amsme ofthe footfen d" adapted to fit and conform whereby sa-idehamher is clamped to the shoe to the inside the shoe, a threaded valveand thereby secured from inoi ement, and a stem secured 'iriythe lower wall of said chamvalve in said e1ve-stem whereby the infla- 10 her and extending down through 'the shoetion of saidehamber may be varied, substan- 5 sole adjacent t'o the front of the heel, a; tially as set forth.

- screw threaded collar on said valve-stem en- I In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

. gaging the lower surface of the shoe-sole BENJAMIN STEWART. 

